MURDER OF WILD BILL HICKOCK AT DEADWOOD.

TRAVELER, AUGUST 30, 1876 - FRONT PAGE.

Murder of Wild Bill at Deadwood,

and the Trial of the Murderer.

[Special Correspondence of the Inter-Ocean.]

DEADWOOD, D. T., Aug. 3, 1876.

Yesterday afternoon about 4 o'clock the people of this city were startled
by the report of a pistol shot in the saloon kept by Messrs. Lewis &
Mann. Your correspondent at once hastened to the spot and found J. B. Hickock,
commonly known as Wild Bill, lying senseless upon the floor. He had been
shot by a man known as Jack McCall. An examination showed that a pistol
had been fired close to the back of the head, the bullet entering the base
of the brain, a little to the right of the center, passing through in a
straight line, making its exit through the right cheek between the upper
and lower jaw bones, loosening several of the molar teeth in its passage,
and carrying a portion of the cerebellum through the wound. From the nature
of the wound, death must have been instantaneous.

A jury was convened which decided that J. B. Hickock came to his death
from a wound resulting from a shot fired from a pistol in the hands of Jack
McCall.

THE TRIAL OF THE MURDERER.

A meeting was called during the evening at McDaniels' Theater, which
was given up by Mr. Languishe for that purpose. Officers were elected to
conduct the trial, which was set for 9 o'clock this morning. Three men were
selected, one to go up Whitewood, another up Deadwood, and the third down
Whitewood early this morning, for the purpose of informing the miners of
the trial. At the time appointed, the prisoner was led into the theater
by the guard, and in charge of Joseph Brown, who had been elected Sheriff,
and placed upon the stage beside the table at which was seated Judge Kuykendall
and other officers of the court. The Judge called the meeting to order,
and, in a neat address asked the people to sustain him in the discharge
of the duties which devolved upon him in the unenviable position which they
had forced him to accept.

THE PRISONER.

Never did a more forbidding countenance face a court than that of Jack
McCall. His head, which is covered by a thick crop of chestnut hair, is
very narrow as to the parts occupied by the intellectual portion of the
brain, while the animal development is exceedingly large. A small sandy
mustache covers a sensual mouth. The nose is what is commonly called "snub,"
cross eyes, and a florid complexion, and the picture is finished. He was
clad in a blue flannel shirt, brown overalls, heavy shoes; and as he sat
in a stooping position with his arms across his breast, he evidently assumed
a nonchalance and bravado which was foreign to his feelings, and betrayed
himself by the spasmodic heavings of his heart.

A hundred names were selected, each written upon a slip of paper and
placed in a hat, from which they were taken by one of the committee who
had been selected to draw the jurors. Nearly all the list was exhausted
before the jury was declared full.

THE TESTIMONY.

The first witness called was Charles Rich, who said he was in the saloon
kept by Lewis & Mann on the afternoon of the 2nd, and was seated at
a table playing a game of poker with Wild Bill and several others when the
prisoner, whom he identified, came into the room, walked deliberately up
to Wild Bill, placed a pistol to the back of the deceased, and fired, saying:
"Take that." Bill fell from the stool upon which he had been seated
without uttering a word.

Samuel Young testified that he was engaged in the saloon; that he had
just delivered $15 worth of poker checks to the deceased, and was returning
to his place behind the bar, when he heard the report of a pistol shot.
Turning around, he saw the prisoner at the back of Wild Bill, with a pistol
in his hand, which he had just discharged, and heard him say "Take
that."

Carl Mann, who was one of the proprietors of the saloon, testified that
he was in the poker game. He noticed a commotion and saw the prisoner (whom
he identified) shoot Wild Bill.

THE DEFENSE.

The defense called for the first witness, P. H. Smith, who said he had
been in the employ of the defendant for four months. He testified that Mr.
McCall was not a man of a quarrelsome disposition, that he had always considered
him a man of good character. The witness testified that he had been introduced
to Wild Bill in Cheyenne, and drank with him, and that the deceased had
a bad reputation, and had been the terror of every place in which he had
resided.

H. H. Pickens said that he had known the defendant four years and believed
him to be a quiet and peaceful man. Wild Bill's reputation as a "shootist"
was very hard; he was quick in using the pistol and never missed his man,
and had killed quite a number of persons in different parts of the country.

Ira Ford testified he had known the defendant about one year and stated:
"Like a great many other men, he would go upon a spree like the rest
of the boys." Wild Bill had the reputation of being a brave man, who
could and would shoot quicker than any man in the western country, and who
always "got away" with his antagonist.

The defense called several others, the tenor of whose evidence was but
a repetition of the foregoing. No attempt was made to show that Wild Bill
had ever seen the prisoner.

THE PRISONER'S STATEMENT.

The prisoner was called upon to make a statement. He came down from the
stage into the auditorium of the theater, and with his right hand in the
bosom of his shirt, his head thrown back, in a harsh, lewd, and repulsive
voice, with a bulldog sort of bravado, made the following statement.

"Well, men, I have but few words to say. Wild Bill killed my brother,
and I killed him. Wild Bill threatened to kill me if I ever crossed his
path. I am not sorry for what I have done. I would do the same thing over
again."

The prisoner then returned to his place on the stage.

WILD BILL'S CHARACTER.

The prosecution then adduced testimony to prove that Wild Bill was a
much abused man; that he had never imposed on anyone, and that in every
instance where he had slain men, he had done so either in the discharge
of his duty as an officer of the law or in self defense. Bill's reputation
as a gambler was bad.

THE VERDICT--NOT GUILTY.

The case having been placed in the hands of the jury, the theater was
cleared, with the understanding that the verdict should be made known in
the saloon where the murder was committed. The prisoner was remanded to
the house where he had been imprisoned during the night. At 9 o'clock the
following verdict was read to the prisoner.

After the inquest the body of the deceased was placed upon a litter made
of two poles and some boards; then a procession was formed, and the remains
were carried to Charley Utter's camp, across the creek. Charles Utter, better
known as Colorado Charley, had been the intimate friend of the deceased
for fifteen years, and with that liberality, which is a feature among mountaineers,
had always shared his purse with him. Charley was much affected by the death
of his friend, and incensed at the villain who had murdered him. A tepee
was pitched at the foot of one of the giant trees which rise so majestically
above Charley's camp. Preparations were at once made for the funeral. The
following notice was printed and sent out. "Funeral notice. Died, in
Deadwood, Black Hills, August 2, 1876, from the effect of a pistol shot,
J. B. Hickock (Wild Bill), formerly of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Funeral services
will be held at Charley Utter's camp, on Thursday afternoon, August 3, 1876,
at 3 o'clock. All are respectfully invited to attend."

SOMETHING FOR BRET HARTE.

At the time appointed a number gathered at the camp. Charley Utter had
gone to a great deal of expense to make the funeral as fine as could be
had in this country. Under the tepee, in a handsome coffin covered with
black cloth and richly mounted with silver ornaments, lay Wild Bill, a picture
of perfect repose. His long chestnut hair, evenly parted over his marble
brow, hung in waving ringlets over the broad shoulders. His face was cleanly
shaved excepting the drooping mustache, which shaded a mouth--which in death
almost seemed to smile, but which in life was unusually grave. The arms
were folded over the stilled breast, which enclosed a heart which had beat
with regular pulsation amid the most startling scenes of blood and violence.
The corpse was clad in a complete dress suit of black broadcloth, new underclothing,
and a white linen shirt. Beside him in the coffin lay his trusty rifle,
which the deceased prized above all other things, and which was to be buried
with him in compliance with an often expressed desire.

A clergyman read an impressive funeral service, which was attentively
listened to by the audience, after which the coffin lid hid the well known
face of Wild Bill from the prying gaze of the world forever.

SCENES AT THE GRAVE.

A grave had been prepared on the mountain side, toward the east, and
to that place in the bright sunlight, the air redolent with the perfume
of sweet flowers, the birds sweetly singing, and all nature smiling, the
solemn cortege wended its way and deposited the mortal remains of Wild Bill.

Upon a large stump at the head of the grave, the following inscription
is deeply cut: "A brave man--the victim of an assassin--J. B. Hickock
(Wild Bill), aged 48 years; murdered by Jack McCall, August 2, 1876."

The city is now exceedingly quiet, although the people are determined
to have no more jury trials.

[JACK McCALL, KILLER OF WILD BILL, ARRESTED IN LARAMIE
CITY.]

TRAVELER, SEPTEMBER 13, 1876 - FRONT PAGE.

Jack McCall, or Sutherland, the man who killed Wild Bill at Deadwood,
has been arrested in Laramie City by Deputy Marshal Balcombe. He was taken
to Cheyenne for examination before U. S. Commissioner Bruner, when, if the
evidence against him be sufficient, he will be held to await a requisition
from the governor of Dakota, and be taken to Yankton for trial for his crime.

McCall admits that Wild Bill never killed a brother of his, but that
he killed Wild Bill because he snatched a card from him during the progress
of a game between them.

---

[MORE ABOUT WILL BILL, KILLED BY JACK McCALL.]

TRAVELER, JANUARY 3, 1877.

More About Wild Bill.

[From the Black Hills Pioneer.]

A Deputy United States Marshal, with a posse of five men, has started
in pursuit of John Varnes, now on the "new stampede," who is charged
with having procured the death of Wild Bill by paying a sum of money to
Jack McCall, alias Sutherland, for committing the deed.

It appears that some time ago, Wild Bill and Varnes had a difficulty
in Denver, and the animosity between the two was augmented by a dispute
over a game of poker at the Senate saloon, in this city, a short time previous
to the death of Wild Bill, at which time Bill interfered in a dispute between
Varnes and another man. Bill covered him with his pistol, and arrogated
to himself the position of umpire, after which friends interfered and ended
the difficulty.

It is not necessary to speak of the arrest and trial of the murderer
McCall. Suffice it to say he was arrested by the United States authorities
at Cheyenne and taken to Yankton for trial. It appears that he now desires
to turn state's evidence, and charges Varnes with having paid him money
to murder Wild Bill.

---

[DEADWOOD, IN THE BLACK HILLS, DESCRIBED.]

TRAVELER, JANUARY 24, 1877.

The Black Hills Pioneer says: "Five months ago where there
was a tangled mass of pine and other brush, there stands the city of Deadwood,
a city of three thousand inhabitants. The city is a mile long, has over
two hundred business houses, a mayor, and a municipal government.

---

[MISCELLANEOUS.]

TRAVELER, JANUARY 24, 1877.

Some person or persons drove off Mr. Huff's team from the school house
at Salt City Sunday evening, Jan. 14th, and at noon, Monday, he had no trace
of them.

---

Jack McCall, the murderer of Wild Bill, is to be hanged on the first
of next March. He says his name is not Jack McCall, but refuses to give
his true name.

---

[TOPICS OF THE TIME.]

TRAVELER, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1879 - FRONT PAGE.

If Reno had got himself killed at the Little Horn, he would have avoided
no end of trouble.

Wild Bill has been killed again--this time in Texas. There cannot
be more than two or three of him left alive now.

[ARTICLE ABOUT W. B. HICKOK, KNOWN AS WILD BILL.]

TRAVELER, JULY 25, 1877 - FRONT PAGE.

Wild Bill.

The murder of W. B. Hickok, known as Wild Bill, a frontiersman, whose
fearlessness, skill, and manly beauty Gen. Custer has praised in a magazine
article, attracted wide attention about a year ago.

A Cheyenne correspondent of the World gives this new account
of the killing.

"Fate brought him to the same card table with Jack McCall, a
gambling sharper. On the last hand McCall bet $10 and lost; and when he
came to settle, found that he had only $7.50. Bill, remarking, "You
oughten't to overbet your pile; that's no way to play cards," handed
him back $5 to pay for his lodging and breakfast. Next morning Bill was
in a saloon, when McCall came behind him noiselessly, placed the muzzle
of his revolver to the back of his head, and killed him."

The same writer sketches the widow of Wild Bill. She has had two husbands,
both public characters, and both doomed to a violent death. In 1847, at
the age of 15, she married William Lake, a clown, of whose circus she became
financial manager. In 1869, while the circus was at Granby, Missouri, a
loafer named John Killion, slipped in without paying. Lake ejected the deadhead,
who armed himself, returned to the tent, paid his way in, and seeking out
Lake, shot him dead. After her husband's death, Mrs. Lake took the management
of the circus, which she conducted for three seasons, visiting all parts
of the Union. She then sold off her menagerie, apparatus, and stud [?],
and in 1875 went to San Francisco. There she remained but a few weeks, going
to Cheyenne a year ago last April, where a little afterwards she was married
to Wild Bill.

---

[WILD BILL PETRIFIED.]

TRAVELER, SEPTEMBER 3, 1879.

Wild Bill Petrified.

The Atchison Globe says that the Black Hill Times gives
an account of the exhuming of Wild Bill, the celebrated border desperado,
on Sunday, the 3rd inst., to be transferred to Mount Moriah cemetery. It
will be remembered by our readers that Wild Bill was killed by Jack McCall
at Deadwood in 1876, McCall being hanged for the murder afterwards. The
Times says that it gets information from Louis Schaenfiel, an old
friend of Bill's and in whose memory Bill's many endearing qualities are
still bright and green. Colorado Charlie, a partner of Bill at the time
of his death, has purchased a lot in the new cemetery, and at his own expense
produced a fitting monument of Italian marble that is now daily expected,
which will be raised over his new resting place as soon as it arrives. At
4 o'clock Sunday morning the body was uncovered, and at 9 o'clock it was
taken out of the grave. The body at interment weighed 180 pounds, but upon
its removal it weighed not less than 390. There was no odor or no perceptible
decay, and it is supposed by those who examined it that petrifaction had
taken place, as it was hard as wood and returned the same sound as a log
when struck with a stick. Everything in the coffin was found just as it
was placed there, and the rumor that the grave had been rifled was all bosh.
The only article buried with the body was a carbine, and that was in as
good a state of preservation as ever. There was no knife and revolvers buried
with him as reported, and those who should know say that he never owned
a pistol in the Hills. His hair was as glossy and silky as when in life,
and a lock of it is now in the possession of Wm. Leonard, musical director
of the Gem theatre. His mustache was as hard and seemed like his body to
have been petrified.